Hennessy Foundation
The Hennessy Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its 2024 grants supported organizations and programs related to scholarships, youth, education, disability services, and sports.
Hennessy Foundation at a glance
In short: Hennessy Foundation gave $190K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $15K), mostly in Connecticut. 18% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $190,000
- +5.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- -38.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $14,615
- +70.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,516,802
- +0.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 18% first-time grantees (2 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (55% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Hennessy Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists Kathleen Hennessy as the contact and a letter of request as the required material. It states there are no award restrictions.
- Contact
Application contact: Kathleen Hennessy
Mailing address: Gds Financial 232 Madison Ave Ste 9, New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 599-8160
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Hennessy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Shepards Inc ($40K). Together the top 10 received $155K.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($30,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest share of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (55%), followed by Washington, DC (16%), California (11%), Idaho (8%), and New York (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Hennessy Foundation open to new grantees?
18%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 2 of 11 grantees (18%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $16K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 82% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $166K (2020) to $190K (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $190K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shepards Inc Bridgeport, CT | Empowers Inner City Teens by Providing College Pre | $40,000 |
| Lacrosse the Nation Washington, DC | Support for Worldwide Lacrosse Programs | $30,000 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $30,000 |
| Advocates New York, NY | Protecting Childrens Right to an Education | $15,000 |
| Prospector Theater Ridgefield, CT | Improve Quality of Life for People with Disability | $10,000 |
| Higher Ground Ketchum, ID | Provide Arts Educational and Physical Programs | $10,000 |
| Horizons Summer Program New Canaan, CT | To Support Youth Summer Programs | $10,000 |
| ICA Cristo Rey Academy San Francisco, CA | Uniform and Transportation Needs for Youth | $10,000 |
| Reach Prep Stamford, CT | Provide Youth with Art Educational Programs | $10,000 |
| Whitby School Greenwich, CT | Scholarship Fund | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Hennessy Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,516,802 | $206,639 | $205,110 | $190,000 | 13 | $190,000 | $193,039 | $175,381 |
| 2023 | $1,515,273 | $96,664 | $204,108 | $179,800 | 21 | $179,800 | $92,666 | $164,563 |
| 2022 | $1,622,717 | $75,851 | $182,918 | $169,000 | 17 | $169,000 | $85,108 | $164,487 |
| 2021 | $1,729,784 | $159,318 | $202,966 | $187,500 | 19 | $187,500 | $148,110 | $165,000 |
| 2020 | $1,773,432 | $70,451 | $184,870 | $165,500 | 13 | — | $70,111 | $153,265 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hennessy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $175K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included scholarship funds at an individual recipient High School and Whitby School, youth summer and skating programs, and programs involving education, sports, and services for people with disabilities.
Among the 2024 grantees, Advocates Incorporated describes its work as empowering people with developmental disabilities to direct their own lives and participate meaningfully in their homes, schools, and communities. Hailey Ice describes its mission as operating an affordable ice skating rink.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded $190,000 across 13 grants. Awards ranged from $5,000 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. Notable grants included $40,000 to SHEPARDS INC, $30,000 to LACROSSE THE NATION for worldwide lacrosse programs, and $25,000 to an individual recipient HIGH SCHOOL for a scholarship fund. Other listed awards included $15,000 to ADVOCATES for protecting children’s right to an education and $5,000 to HAILEY ICE for a youth skating program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Kathleen Hennessy as president and David Hennessy as vice president.
Hennessy Foundation is led by Kathleen Hennessy, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 2 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Kathleen Hennessy
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
David Hennessy
Vice President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Hennessy Foundation
How much does Hennessy Foundation give each year?
Hennessy Foundation gave $190K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $180K across 21 grants.
What is Hennessy Foundation's typical grant size?
Hennessy Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,615, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Hennessy Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Hennessy Foundation give grants?
Hennessy Foundation gives mostly in Connecticut: 55% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and California (11%).
Does Hennessy Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Hennessy Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Fund" (3 grants).
Who are Hennessy Foundation's largest grantees?
Hennessy Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Shepards Inc ($40,000), Lacrosse the Nation ($30,000) and Advocates ($15,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($30,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Hennessy Foundation?
Hennessy Foundation reported $1.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $190K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $175K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Hennessy Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included scholarship funds at an individual recipient High School and Whitby School, youth summer and skating programs, and programs involving education, sports, and services for people with disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Hennessy Foundation?
The filing lists Kathleen Hennessy as the contact and a letter of request as the required material. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Hennessy Foundation's EIN?
Hennessy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6153737. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Hennessy Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in New York
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Fairfield County's Community Foundation Inc
Norwalk, CT
Fairfield County’s Community Foundation funds local nonprofits addressing education and careers, economic security, health equity, housing, civic engagement, and related community needs in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Awards vary widely: capacity-building grants are up to $10,000, Community Impact Grants are $10,000–$15,000, and reported 2025 grants had a median of $24,080. It accepts unsolicited applications for some programs, including rolling capacity-building and small-grant opportunities; Strategic Partner Grants are invitation-only.
Assets
$291.4M
Grants
448
Total Given
$25.7M
Spur Community Foundation Inc
Ketchum, ID
Spur Community Foundation funds nonprofit programs, projects, capacity building, and general operations, with focus areas including youth and education, mental health, environmental stewardship, vulnerable populations, and community capacity in the Wood River Valley and Blaine County, Idaho. Its 2024 grants had a median of $21,500; its programs offer up to $10,000 for Community Grants and up to $50,000 for Impact Grants. It accepts applications through its grant programs, with project and program proposals starting in conversation with staff or board members.
Assets
$15.9M
Grants
75
Total Given
$3.7M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds nonprofit programs in areas such as arts, education, health, the environment, workforce development, and youth development, including projects that improve services, build organizational capacity, or advance policy and systems change. Its competitive grants mainly serve New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some national and international environmental funding; the 2024 median grant was $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research and public engagement in mathematics and the physical, life, autism, and neuroscience sciences. In 2024, it made 1,727 grants, with a median award of $72,000 and amounts ranging from $1,480 to $20 million, supporting organizations in the U.S. and internationally. It states that it funds only preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
More Funders in New York
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Hennessy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hennessy-foundation-morg_778b0c1445fb41f1a10956ff17d92685
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_136153737_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Hennessy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hennessy-foundation-morg_778b0c1445fb41f1a10956ff17d92685},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Hennessy Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Hennessy Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?